Igniting system.



H. G. OSBURN; IGNITING SYSTEM.- APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H.- G. OSBUBN. IG'NITING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22,1911.

Patented Jm.26,1915.

HARRY G. OSIBURN, OF'PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

IGNITING SYSTEM.

Application filed. May 22, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

used to better advantage and to the exclu- Be it known that I, HARRY G. OsnUnN, a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in Vented certain new and useful Improvements in Igniting Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to igniting systems for gas engines, and it has for one of its objects the provision of dual means for creating a spark, and comprising in effect a pair of complete ignition-outfits, either of which may be utilized without affecting the other.

The invention has furthermore, for its object the provision of a pair of diii'erent 'apparati, one of which complements the other in its initial or starting operation,

after which the second apparatus may be sion of the first.

The invention has furthermore for its. object the improved organization of some of the coiiperative elements into substantially a single unit which may be removed bodily for repairs and requires the disconnection of very few electrical connections without in any way interfering with the operation of the other set.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a circuit breaker whereby either one or the other ignition apparatus may be brought into action.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and be defined in the claims.

The invention has been clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters denote similar parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the magneto and :its driving mechanlsm and connections with the other elements of my improved system; Fig. 2 is a top view of the magneto-driver and the base upon which the magneto is normally seated, per 86, Fig. 3 illustrates in two face-views and one edge-view, the coupling member employed between the magneto and its driver.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Briefly stated, my improved system comprises, (in connection with the spark-plugs of an engine, the distributing and timing mechanisms therefor and the spark-coil,) a

magneto circuit and also a battery-circuit,

from its supporting base'which also carries the timing and distributing devices, and also the driving shaft whereby all of these three members just mentioned are operated.

Referring now to the drawings, (Fig. 1) the engine comprises four cylinders-having spark-plugs P, P P 1", separately connected by conductors with four terminals d, d d (Z 01'' a distributor mechanism D which comprises the usual revoluble arm actuated in a positive manner from the engine-shaft 10 by any suitable means (not shown), through the intervention of a vertical spindle 11 (see Fig. 2). This spindle is electrically connected at its top through a conductor 12 with the outer winding of an induction coil 1, and thence by wires 13, 14, 15 to the metallic frame of the engine where it is grounded into electrical connection with the bodies of the several spark plugs. The circuit 'just described constitutes the secondary circuit established by either one or the other of a pair of primary, circuits including a magneto and a battery re-' and through a breaker arm V which is preferably positively operated by 'a multi-rise cam 19 on the spindle 11, and which makes and breaks contact with a terminal20, the latter being connected with the other pole of the battery, by a conductor 21. In order to protect the contact points 20, the two elements of a condenser G are connected with the conductor 13 and 21 respectively.

In regard to the magneto circuit it will be noted that the latter includes the conductor 18 above mentioned, as well as the inner winding of the induction coil 1, then the conductor 13, and then a breaker arm '0 also operated in a positive manner, as by a multi-rise cam 19' on the same spindle 11.

I The arm 1) makes and breaks contact with a terminal which connects by conductors 26, 26 with one pole 27 of the magneto M, while the other --pole 28 thereof leads through a conductor 29 to the second pole 30 of the two-point switch S, the circuit being then closed by-the movement ofthe arm 17 into position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, this movementresulting in open-' ing the battery-circuit. In order to protect the contact point 25, a condenser C is placed in communication with the point 25, through the conductor 26 above mentioned, and the wire 31, the other element of the condenser C being connected by metallic elements, and

' 28 above named, (see also Figs. 1 and 2).

Both of the breaker cams, and their arms 2), '0' are disposed in a casing 35 of a timing mechanism and surrounding the spindle 11 at that point, the particular construction and movement of this casing being neither shown or described herein as it does not form any-part of the present invention except in a generic sense. Since the shaft 10 is operated in a fixed ratio to the engineshaft, and since furthermore the spindle 11 carries the distributer around, the former is actuated so as to synchronize witlrthe engine shaft, and means are also provided for detachably connecting the shaft 10 with the armature shaft on (see Fig. l) of the magneto M In the present instance the magneto has a base plate 40 provided with a cylindrical boss 41 which is adapted to be seated in the cylindrical aperture 42 of a platen 43, upon which the housing for the spindle 11 is also secured, the aperture 42 being in' direct longitudinal alinement with the axis of the shaft 10. The magneto is thus accurately positioned on the platen, and it is preferably secured in place by set-screws 44, (see Figs. 1 and 2).

The driving shaft 10 and the armature shaft on are coupled by a member 45 interposed between and in engagement with, both of them, without requiring any fastening means. For the purpose of causing both of the shafts to rotate simultaneously, the diskcoupling 45 is provided at opposite sides thereof with diagonal ribs 47, 48, disposed substantially at right angles to each other and adapted to enter grooves provided therefor in the adjacent ends of the armature-shaft and driving, shaft, respectively.'

By virtue of this slip construction the coupling is. in reality an elastic one, and in orderto disassemble the magneto from the shaft 10, it must first be lifted bodily until its boss 40 is clear of the platen as shown in Fig. '1, it being understood that one set of ribs 47, 48 must be in vertical position to permit this rising movement, after which the magneto, in its entirety and together with the condenser is free to be carried away for repairs without requiring any disconnections of parts other than of those above stated.

I claim I 1. In a dual igniting system for engines comprising a battery, a magneto, two circuit breakers, an induction coil and a two-point switch, the combination of the two circuit breakers having their movable contacts in electric connection with one terminal of the primary of said coil, the two-point switch having its movable contacts in electrical connection with the other terminal of said primary coil and its fixed contacts in electric connection with the fixed contacts of the circuit breakers respectively, the battery being in one and the magneto in the other one of said connections, a dri e concondensers, an induction coil and a two.

point switch, the combination with 'a base plate upon which thecircuit breakers and their actuating mechanism are mounted, (letachable connection between the magneto and said base plate and between it and the actuating mechanism of the circuit breakers, a battery circuit including one of the circuit breakers, the primary of the inducmemes tion coil, the movable contect of the two point switch and one of the fixed contacts thereof, a magneto circuit including the remaining circuit breaker, the primary of the induction coil, the movable contact of the two point switch and the remaining fixed contact thereof, the magneto being detachably connected in said circuit and forming with its condenser an independent removable unit of the system.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY G. OSBURN. Witnesses F. E. ERNST, G. E. MGGRANN. 

